According to Janine Benyus, these are the Nine Principles of Nature that we should use to come up with new biomimicry applications.
1. Nature runs on sunlight
This principle is being put into action already in the form of solar panels. They take light from the sun and turn it into energy. Also, new "green houses" capture the warmth of sunlight and use it to heat the house, thus conserving fossil fuels or electricity, which doesn't have to be used for heating. 2. Nature uses only the energy it needs
This relates to the insects referred to in the video, which suck water out of the air. This principle may cause potential problems for humans because we don't demonstrate the quality of moderation very well. However, as nature shows, sometimes "less is more". 3. Nature fits form to function
This essentially means that the shape, characteristics, or even color of an organism all serve some functional purpose that benefits that organism. It would make sense that our new inventions should have this quality as well. Some examples of this in Benyus's lecture are the surfaces that can create color or be self-cleaning because of their shape. 4. Nature recycles everything
This is a big one, because nature cannot afford to destroy its environment, and at this point in time, we can't either. While animals breath in oxygen and breath out carbon dioxide, plants do the opposite. This creates a cycle where everything is used and nothing is wasted. Humans have disrupted the cycle by cutting down plants and having cars that put too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. If we can find a way to use this carbon dioxide productively, like Jeff Coates and his biodegradable plastic made out of carbon dioxide, we could solve a lot of problems. 5. Nature rewards cooperation
This is also a very important principle because it hits at the root of biomimicry: nature and humans working together. In nature's ecosystems organisms work together in order to survive, sometimes having to make sacrificies and adapt. This principle is important because it means sometimes we humans need to comprimise with nature so the both of us can thrive. 6. Nature banks on diversity
In times were everything is mass produced and very uniform, sometimes it is hard to find the greatness in diversity. Nature however is propelled by diversity, certain species survive only because they became different. Applied to the human world, diversity means that there is never "one perfect solution" to our problems. Whether its solving the energy crisis or construting new buildings, we learn that often varying our methods is better for ourselves and the environment. 7. Nature demands local expertise
Organisms from nature cannot afford to travel thousands of miles for there needs, they use whatever is close to them. In a world run by a global economy, sometimes we miss the great things right under our nose. Food and supplies made close to home are much more beneficial to the environment (require less transporation, support own community, use less preservatives, packing materials, etc.) 8. Nature curbs excesses from within
One way of looking at this principle is that nature is self-regulating, or its always trying to restore balance. A lot of things in our world to day are out of balance, so appying this principle would mean seeking a better balance between nature and people, technology and natural systems, etc. This priniple is very important because nature shows us that an unbalaned ecosystem cannot function. 9. Nature taps the power of limits
Everything has its limits and there is an inherent limits in nature. Similiary in the human world, there are limits to what we can do. Innovation isn't limitless, but our job as organisms is too find the edge of these limits. Innovators don't accept conventional limits, and biomimicry helps us push even further into the unknown.
1. Nature runs on sunlight
This principle is being put into action already in the form of solar panels. They take light from the sun and turn it into energy. Also, new "green houses" capture the warmth of sunlight and use it to heat the house, thus conserving fossil fuels or electricity, which doesn't have to be used for heating.
2. Nature uses only the energy it needs
This relates to the insects referred to in the video, which suck water out of the air. This principle may cause potential problems for humans because we don't demonstrate the quality of moderation very well. However, as nature shows, sometimes "less is more".
3. Nature fits form to function
This essentially means that the shape, characteristics, or even color of an organism all serve some functional purpose that benefits that organism. It would make sense that our new inventions should have this quality as well. Some examples of this in Benyus's lecture are the surfaces that can create color or be self-cleaning because of their shape.
4. Nature recycles everything
This is a big one, because nature cannot afford to destroy its environment, and at this point in time, we can't either. While animals breath in oxygen and breath out carbon dioxide, plants do the opposite. This creates a cycle where everything is used and nothing is wasted. Humans have disrupted the cycle by cutting down plants and having cars that put too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. If we can find a way to use this carbon dioxide productively, like Jeff Coates and his biodegradable plastic made out of carbon dioxide, we could solve a lot of problems.
5. Nature rewards cooperation
This is also a very important principle because it hits at the root of biomimicry: nature and humans working together. In nature's ecosystems organisms work together in order to survive, sometimes having to make sacrificies and adapt. This principle is important because it means sometimes we humans need to comprimise with nature so the both of us can thrive.
6. Nature banks on diversity
In times were everything is mass produced and very uniform, sometimes it is hard to find the greatness in diversity. Nature however is propelled by diversity, certain species survive only because they became different. Applied to the human world, diversity means that there is never "one perfect solution" to our problems. Whether its solving the energy crisis or construting new buildings, we learn that often varying our methods is better for ourselves and the environment.
7. Nature demands local expertise
Organisms from nature cannot afford to travel thousands of miles for there needs, they use whatever is close to them. In a world run by a global economy, sometimes we miss the great things right under our nose. Food and supplies made close to home are much more beneficial to the environment (require less transporation, support own community, use less preservatives, packing materials, etc.)
8. Nature curbs excesses from within
One way of looking at this principle is that nature is self-regulating, or its always trying to restore balance. A lot of things in our world to day are out of balance, so appying this principle would mean seeking a better balance between nature and people, technology and natural systems, etc. This priniple is very important because nature shows us that an unbalaned ecosystem cannot function.
9. Nature taps the power of limits
Everything has its limits and there is an inherent limits in nature. Similiary in the human world, there are limits to what we can do. Innovation isn't limitless, but our job as organisms is too find the edge of these limits. Innovators don't accept conventional limits, and biomimicry helps us push even further into the unknown.